A free download that works with your web browser. There are two options: Zotero for Firefox is a Firefox-specific extension that offers the full range of functionality. Zotero Standalone -- a separate browser-independent application that can be used with Chrome, Safari, or Opera -- offers slightly less functionality than the Firefox extension.

NYU purchases a campus-wide subscription to this web-based service that covers all members of the NYU community. Because RefWorks is web-based, you can use it from any Internet-connected computer/device on campus or off.

NYU has a campus-wide license to this software, which you download (at no cost to you) to your laptop or desktop computer. The software includes a less developed web-based component called EndNoteWeb, which can be used to sync across multiple personal computers.

Mendeley is a free citation manager with editing functionality in both a web-based and a desktop application. There is also a browser plug-in (compatible with most major browsers) for saving citation information from websites.

Features and Functionality of Citation Management Tools

RefWorks

EndNote

Mendeley

Zotero

Access

Web Based

Yes

No*

No*

No*

Cost

Free**

Free**

Free***

Free

Adding References

Import from online databases

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Import citation information from web page

Yes

Yes (Web Component)

Yes

Yes

Output

Create in-text citations

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Create bibliographies

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Collaborate

Sharing references

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Sharing PDFs

No

Yes****
(up to 17 group members)

Yes****
(up to 3 group members)

Yes****
(unlimited group
members)

Group ability to add references to shared folder

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Publicly share Profile/citations

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Storage

5GB

5GB

2GB (free)

Yes, 300 MB cloud based and unlimited on desktop****

*While these tools are not Web based, meaning you need to download a desktop application, they do have a web component (which can be used without being on the desktop download and which can be synced with the desktop).

**NYU Libraries licenses the use of RefWorks and EndNote for NYU students and faculty.

***Can pay for a more robust subscription, but the basic package is free.

****PDFs may be shared in private groups (size of group depends on tool, as does the amount of free storage available for PDFs).